It has been a while since the late Saddam Hussein was executed and I still feel odd about that event and the circumstances surrounding it; Better yet, I am still confused and I cannot make sense of anything that happened night. Is it because it is an Iraqi matter ultimately and I am not affording myself the right to react in anyway? Is it that I am still in a state of shock over how it was handled and therefore I am not ready to try and make sense of it? Is it because this matter is so divisive and emotional it is best left alone? It is in everybody’s mind but rarely anyone brings it up in casual conversation as they do other events.

September 29th 1994, Hasni Chakroune aka Cheb Hasni was assassinated at the age of 26; 13 years since!!May He Rest in Peace!Someone like Hasni should not be forgotten. His singing was great. Its effect and implication on society were greater.This is the person who always talked about the poor in his interviews and called on everyone to always be kind, generous,and helpful to them. This is the person who connected with the unprivileged and the average; More importantly, the youth and their issues. As a teenager, one goes through quite a bit of emotions and is lost and clueless as to how to deal with crushes and the opposite sex asthe realization and the discovery that a real difference exists settles now.

It is no surprise that the Moroccan community in the US, like any other community, discusses and talks about Morocco and its issues at many levels. At times, it seems that people shy away from criticizing any aspect of Morocco for fear of being labeled as a non-patriot or what have you.

Imagine you express an opinion. Imagine you speak against an injustice. Imagine you are snatched from your home while your parents look-on hopelessly. Imagine them going everyday to various establishments acquiring about your whereabouts to no avail.

It is clear that that deep down there is justified hurt, resentment, or painful memories. That said, I am convinced that if you reach deeper, you will find something else. You will find the abundant ability for forgiveness. I challenge you to look and to place everyone there. At times, life puts us in awkward situations. You will do people as they have done you, wrong! It is human nature. I long to be forgiven for I forgive everybody.

For the first time in years, my beloved hometown made the news. Everyone has heard or read about the violent unrest recently in Sefrou over the Moroccan government’s latest increases in the price of basic food commodities. A march was called for and organized by the local chapter of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights. I was shocked to see protesters clashing with police, cars torched, buildings damaged, and people injured and being arrested. We are accustomed to seeing these kinds of demonstrations in the big cities like Casablanca, Rabat, or Fez, but not in my sleepy hometown.